Machine tool



Feb. 17, 1942. 'c. B. DE VLIEG MACHINE TOOL Filed Nov. 21, 1958 16 Sheets-Sheet l N. 9 5 i o EN EN wmm dmwm\ Q2 w 6. N5

INVENIOR CHARLES B.DVL|EG W f ATTORNEYS Feb. 17, 1942. c. B. DE VLIIVEG MACHINE TOOL Filed Nov. 21, 1958 16 SheetsSheet 5 INVE-NTOR CHARLES B.DeVLIEG I BY lTTORNEYS Feb. 1 7, 1942. vc. B. DE VLIEG MACHINE TOOL Filed Nov. 21, 1938 16 Sheets-Sheef4 CHARLES B. DeVLIEG ATTORAEYS Feb; 17, 1942. c B. DE m 2,273,399

MACHINE r001;

Filed Nov. 2 1, 1958 16 sheets-sheet 5 ATTORNEYS Feb. 17, 1942. c. B. DE VLIEG MACHINE IQOL Filed Nov. 21, 1938 16 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR CHARLES BIDVLlEG ATTORNEYS Feb. 17,- 1942 c. B. DE VLIE'G MACHINE TOOL l6 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Nov. 21, 1938 INVENTOR CHARLES B.De Vl..lE6

ATTORNEYS Feb. 17; 1942 c. B. DE VLIEG I MACHINETOOL Filed Nov. 21, 1938 16 sheets-' s fieet 8 INVENTOR.

' BY CHARLES B.DeVLIEG ATTORNEY$ Feb. 17, 1942 c. B. DE VLIEG MACHINE TOOL Filed Nov. 21. 1958 16 Shets-Sheet 9 3 V/GJ an- :N un- Qua." 2N QN O 3a W INVENTOR' CHARI$.

B DQVLIEG W v 4TToRNEYs Feb. 17, 1942.

C. B. DE VLI EG MACHINE TOOL Filed Nov. 21,1958

16 Sheets-Sheet ll QdE INVENTOR CHARLES aowuss BY C. B. DE VLIEG MACHINE TOOL Feb. 17, 1942'.

Filegi Nov. 21, 1938 16 Sheets-Sheet 12 M/ .0 MG M r W s v I- R .A H c B ATTORNEY Feb. 17, 1942. 'c. B; DE VLIEG 2,273,399

MACHINE TOOL Filed Nov. 21, 19:58 1s Shets-Sheet 1s INVENTOR' c AR ES B.DeVLl 6 By W m/ we? A AT oRNEYs Feb. 17, 1942. c. 3. DE VLIEG ,39

MACHINE TOOL Filed Nov. 21, 1958. 16 Sheets-Shet 15 a-sq 'FIG .40.

INVENTOR' BY CHARLES amvuae s ATTORNEYS Feb. 17,1942. c; B.- D\E'VLIEG ,39

' MACHINE TpoL v Filed Nov. 21, 1938 16 Sheets-Sheet 1s FIGAI.

INVENTOR CHARLES B. cause ATTORNEY$ Patented Feb. 17, 1942 MACHINE TOOL Charles B. De Vlieg, Detroit, Mich, assignor to National Broach and Machine Company, Inc., Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Application November 21, 1938, Serial No. 241,667

59 Claims.

The present invention relates to machine tools and more particularly to a novel machine tool and method adapted to cut a work piece to cir-' machine the work piece to a circular cross sec-- tion. In some of its aspects the invention may be carried out with a single cutter while in others the work piece is presented between a pair of opposed cutters. I

Broadly described, the invention involves one or more milling cutters which are rotated in fixed position. A work piece is mounted for movement into cutting engagement with thecutters and in the case'of opposed cutters the work piece is mounted for movement to a position substantially between the opposed cutters.

Preferably while the work piece is fed into the rotating cutter it is held against rotation. After ithas been moved to a predetermined position corresponding to a predetermined depth of cut by the milling cutter or cutters the work piece is rotated slowly. Rotation of the work piece may insome cases be 180 or slightly more; in other cases, for example when a single milling cutter is employed or when opposed millingcutters of diiierent profile are employed, the work piece is continued at least 360 or preferably slightly more.

In order to carry out the present invention I have designed an automatic machine having a number of novel features.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a machine for milling awork piece to circular crossfsection by rotating the described method which is characteristic by novel structural features to impart extreme rigidity thereto.

It is a further object of the present invention toprovide an automatic machine for carrying out predetermined cycles asdesired.

it is a further object of the present invention to provide a pair of opposed milling cutters in relative fixed relation in combination with a traversing table having two work spindles thereon, one of said spindles being in loading position while said other spindle is in cutting position with relation to the milling cutter.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide "a machine in which the work piece is advanced from loading position at high speed and is fed into predetermined cutting engagement with the tool at a feeding speed. 1

It is a further object of the present inventio to machine a work piece to circular cross section by feeding the work piece relative to a rotary cutter interrupting the feed, rotating the work piecaiurther feeding the work piece and then further rotating the workpiece. I

Other objects will be apparent as this description proceeds and especially when takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of my improved machine;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the machine;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the tool heads;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the tool heads taken from the right in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged elevation of the cross slide partly in section:

Fig. 7 is an enlarged view of the transmission shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Fi 6;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of my machine with parts broken away; n

Fig. 10 is a wiring diagram showing the circuits for the various control mechanisms:

Fig. 11 is an irregular vertical section through the slide transmission;

12 is a section along the line l2l2 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a section along the line |3-l3 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 14 is an end view of the lead screw nut; Fig. 15 is a section on the line l5-I5 of Fig. it

oi the lead screw;

Fig. 17 is a plan view of one form of solenoid I Fig. 16 is a section of the support for one end Fig. 19 is a modified wiring diagram in which provision is made for two stages of speed;

Figs. 20 to 28, inclusive, are diagrams illustrating several methods of feed and traversing cycles that may be employed on the present machine;

Fig. 29 is a diagram showing cyclical operation in which a rotary table is employed;

Fig. 30 is a plan view of one form of rate selector actuator mechanism;

Fig. 31 is a side View of the device shown in Fig. 30;

Fig. 32 shows a motor operated device for vertically reciprocating the work spindles;

Fig. 33 is a section on the line 33-33 of Fig. 32;

Fig. 34 is a section on the line 34-34 of Fig. 32;

Fig. 35 is an enlarged detail elevational view of the work holding mechanism;

Fig. 36 is a side elevational view of the strut for supporting one end of a cutter spindle;

Fig. 37 is a front elevational view of the strut shown in Fig. 36;

Fig. 38 is a top plan view of the strut shown in Fig. 3'7;

Fig. 39 is a sectional view taken onthe line 39-39 of Fig. 37;

Fig. 40 is a section on the line 4040 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 41 is a diagrammatic front elevation showing the disposition of the various control mechanisms;

Fig. 42 is a diagrammatic showing of a typical cutter assembly.

In order to simplify the disclosure of themachine embodying the present invention, I have divided the description into convenient groups comprising: general organization; details of certain actuating mechanisms, and the like.

7 GENERAL ORGANIZATION As well illustrated in Fig. 1, the machine comprises a primary base I, column-like members 2 and 3 extending upwardly from the base, and a secondary base 4 spanning the columns 2 and 3 and connected thereto at their top as by bolts or other securing means 5. As will be readily understood, columns 2 and 3 may be formed integral with the base I, or if desired may be separately formed and rigidly attachedthereto I by any conventional means.

As seen in Fig. 2, a generally fiat wall member lb is provided which rests upon primary base I and spans the space between columns 2 and 3. The wall lb is provided substantially centrally with a pair of openings lo and an intermediat partition la. The openings Ic are for a purpose subsequently to be described.

Cutters 9 and I0 well illustrated in Fig. 9 are carried by the secondary base 4 ingenerally depending relation thereto and are adapted to be driven from motors 8 operating through suitable speed changer mechanism contained within speed changer housing 1, which in turn is supported from a support 6b. Cutters 9 and ID are 'mounted for adjustment toward and away from llll is adapted to engage both the primary base I and secondary base 4. For this purpose and as best illustrated in Fig. 6, a housing 8| is provided which is secured to the slide IIII by screws 8| a or the like.

Supported within the housing 8| is a supporting roller 80,. which is adapted to roll upon a thrust or wear plate 82 provided on the primary base I, and has wiper elements 81 associated therewith. Journal pin 84 is headed and eccentric to take up wear.

In order to provide for extreme rigidity of the slide or work table IIJI during its translation between the primary base I and the secondary base 4 a pair of end supports 89 and 90 are extended upwardly from the ends thereof. Connected to the upper end of end supports 89 and 90 is provided a bar 9|. As seen in Fig. 9, bar 9| is in sliding engagement with secondary base 4 and for this purpose a wear plate 4a is carried by base 4 against which the bar 9| slides. A pair of work supports are provided comprising head stocks IIIII which are movable vertically to clamp and release the work and corresponding tail stocks 92a. Suitable means later to be described are provided for rotating the headstocks I00 in predetermined cycles relative to the other operative movements of the machine. At the rear of the machine, best seen in Fig. 2, is provided a container 16 which receives coolant and chips from apertures Ic previously referred to. The container has a sieve at the bottom to strain out chips and coolant flows therethrough to a reservoir formed in the base I of the machine. Motor '13 is operatively connectedto a coolant pump 14 whichthrough suitable piping (not shown) is adapted to supply coolant to conventional nozzles located in the vicinity of the cutters, as is well understood in the art.

Slide I BI is adapted to be translated between primary base I and secondary base 4 by means of motor I3, seen in Figs. 2 and 9. which operates through. the medium of a feed screw I 6, as will subsequently be described.

Suitable automatic controls are provided for timing the machine and for causing the various elements to cooperate in a predetermined cycle.

Frame structure As indicated previously in the description of the general organization the frame of the machine comprises essentially'primary base I, end columns 2 and 3 and secondary base 4.

In addition a strut 49h, seen in Fig. 9, is provided and spans base I and secondary base or beam 4 substantially at the mid-portion thereof and at the front of the machine. Strut 49h is preferably a heavy casting and supports the front cutter spindle and rigidly reinforces beam 4.

Coolant is supplied liberally by suitable nozzles (not shown) and the slide IDI is provided with a guard 18a which retains coolant against displacement over the front of the machine. Coolant flows rearwardly down over surface II, integrally formed with wall Ib to a container 16. Guard or nozzle [1 prevents spilling, and is required by the heavy flow of coolant employed. Chips are carried by the coolant and strained out while the coolant is continuously circulated. Coolant flows from container 16 into reservoir I2, and is recirculated by pump 14 driven by motor 13.

As indicated in Fig. 6, columns 89 and 90 are secured to the ends of the slide IIJI and for this purpose, the columns are provided with depending tongue-like extensions 99c. Plates 99d are bolted or'otherwise secured to the slide |9| as indicated at 99a and are spaced apart a distance so as to receive. the extensions 99c therebetween.

Extensions 99c are further provided with a further tongue and groove connection with the slide |9|, as illustrated at 99b.

99 have longitudinal grooves or recesses in which v the bar 9| is longitudinally slidable and are also provided with aligned transverse recesses inregistry with recesses 99. A tapered .wedge 99a is slidable' in said transverse grooves and due to its tapered form may adjust bar 9| longitudinally to" align the work centers; For this purposewedge 99a has a depending flange 99b adjustably received within a recess in supports 99 and 99 and a bolt 990, provided with locking means 99d, adjusts the wedge as described.

The bar 9| reciprocates with the table or slide |9| relative to the secondary base 4. The bar 9| is kept in accurate alignment with wear plate 4a by means of flanges 94 and 95 bolted or otherwise secured to the beam 4. Wear plate 4a is Cutter transmission and supports The drivefor the cutters as has been previous.

ly alluded to elsewhere in this specification originates in motors 8. Since the machine in the present embodiment is equipped with two iden- .-tical drives, one for each cutter, only one organization will be set forth in detail.

Each motor 9 is fixed to a base 941 which is pivotally secured to a sub-base member 9b attached to the secondary base 4.' Motor supports 9a and the attached motor 9 is pivoted with respect to the member 9b by means of pivot pins 2|. .4. bolt or stud 22 is fixed in the secondary 5 base 4 and extends through an aperture in the motor base 9a at a point remote from the axis of pins 2|, as well illustrated in Fig. 9. Nuts 29, 29 are provided on bolts 22 and are adapted to clamp motor support 9a therebetween in adjusted position. By this means the motor is swung about its pivot pintle 2| in a manner'to provide a-predetermined tension on the drive belt 23.

Motor 9, as seen in Fig. 1 has an armature shaft 24 extending therefrom and carries driving 1 sheave 25 appropriately grooved to receive a driving belt 23 which preferably takes the form of a multiple V belt disposed about the armature shaft 24, and a driven shaft carries sheaves 26 formed to receive driving belt 23. It will be understood that any suitable power transmitting means may be employed, such forvexample as direct gear drive, chain drive, or the like.

The drive for the cutter spindle 48 is shown in detail in Fig. 4. As seen in this figure, secondary base 4 is provided with an arcuate slot 40 through which the 'cutter spindle 48 projects, the slot 4c being arcuate in shape to permit adjustment of the spindle, as will be subsequently described. Bracket 6b supports a housing 1 into which driven shaft 21 projects. A bearing support housing 29 is carried by, or integral with housing 1 in which are provided suitably spaced bearings 29 and 39. Bearing 39 is held in position 29 as by screws 3|a, or the like. Closure plate .3| also carries a lubricant retaining element 3 lb of any suitable type.

The shaft 21 projects within the housing 1 and has secured to its inner end a gear, 32 retained thereon by appropriate holding means 33. Carried by the bracket 6bis a-shaft 31 transversely arranged to shaft 21 and adaptedfto be driven thereby. For this purpose shaft 31 carries a gear 99 adapted to mesh'and be driven by gear 32, previously described. Shaft 31 is rotatably supported in housing 1 andbracket 6b by bearings 49 and 490. Gear 36 is removably secured to a hub carried by the shaft :1, as illustrated in Fig. 4.

In addition to the gear 36, shaft 31 also carries a driving gear 4| disposed between the bearings 49 and 49a and adapted to mesh'with a second gear 42 which is keyed or otherwise secured to shaft 43. The gear 42 is disposed intermediate bearings 44 and 44a mounted in the housing 1 and the bracket 6b, respectively. Shaft 43 is re-.

tained in position by suitable locking means 43a, A cover plate 59 is mounted on housing 1 and provides access to the beveled gears 32 and 3G.

Theshaft 43 projects from the bracket 6b toward the secondary base 4 and is journalled in a suitable recess in the secondary base 4 and in the housing 36, a bearing being provided as indicated at 45. Retainer 43b is provided for retaining the bearing 45 in position. Shaft 43 is provided with a gear 46 which may be integral therewith, as shown," or maybe keyed or otherwise secured thereto, as desired. The gear 46 meshes with a bull gear 41 carried by the cutter spindle 49. The spindle 49 is carried by the housing 36 entirely separate from the housing 1 or the bracket 91). The reason for this distinct separation will hereinafter be set forth.

Spindle 49 is disposed parallel with shafts 43 and 31 and is journalled in bearings 53 and 54. The cutter spindle 49 is enlarged, as indicated at 5| to compensate for unusual heavy radial thrusts caused by heavy cuts taken by the cutter. A retainer element 52 is provided for retaining the bearings 63 in position. Securing means 55 at the opposite end of the spindle retains bearings 54 in position, and in addition retains the cutter spindle 49 in the position'shown. A cover 56 is secured to the housing 36 to provide access to the bearings 54. The gear 41 previously referred to is secured to a tapered-portion 49a of the cutter spindle 49 and relative rotation is prevented by a driving key 48b interfitting the shaft 49 and bull gear 41.

Cutter spindle 49 is provided with a splined end "projecting below secondary base 4, the splined portion being adapted to receive cutters 9 or l9, which are retained in position by locking means 49b (Fig. 9).

It will be understood, of course, that the cutter heads are arranged in pairs on the secondary base 4 and that cutter spindles 49 and their cutter holding portions 49 are arranged in a plane that extends at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the machine or the line of movement of the cross slide or work support. Asa result of this arrangement, the cutters are presented in what is herein termed as opposed relationship. This arrangement permits a rotary work piece to be completed in substantially of rotation if the cutters 9 and I9 are identical or in 360 of rotation if the cutters 9 and I9 are different.

Adjustment of cutter spindles toward and away .by closure plate 3| secured to the housing plate 7 from each other is provided in order that work pieces of different diameters may be machined. The adjusting movement of the cutter heads and spindlestoward and away from each other is provided by mounting the housing 36 for pivotal movement with respect to bracket 6b and housing I. The housing 36 has a projecting portion 36a extending beneath the offset end of the bracket 6b. The projection 36a is apertured to receive shaft 43 which passes completely therethrough as previously described and is securely engaged within a recess in secondary base 4. Member 59 is received within thellppermost recess within the projection 36a and positions the housing 36 for pivotal movement, and in addition serves as a retainer for bearing 44a. The

shaft 43 therefore serves as the pivot about which the housing 36 may be swung in order to accomplish the adjustment referred to. The slot 40 is arcuate in form and formed on a radius whose center is the axis of shaft 43. Since the driving connection to the cutter spindle 48 is from gear 46 carried by shaft 43 and since swinging movement of the cutter spindle housing and associated parts is about same shaft 43, it will be apparent that driving connection between shaft 43 and cut-- ter spindle 48 is retained in all positions of adjustment of the housing 36.

As seen in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 9, the housings 36 and associated parts are adjusted relatively of each other by means of a'worm and rack combination. Housings 36 have a projection 36d to which is fixedly secured a rackelement 36e (Fig. l). Securely attached to the secondary base 4 is a support 369 in which is rotatably mounted a worm gear 361' engaging rack 36:2. The worm 36! is carried by a shaft having a squared end 36h for engagementwith a wrench or tool. Rotation of the worm 36f, as will be readily apparent, moves housings 36 and associated parts relatively of each other and of the secondary base-4. As will be apparent from Fig. 9, separate adjusting means are provided for each housing 36 and its associated parts.

In order to retain the cutter spindle firmly in adjusted position, suitable locking means are provided which take the form of stud bolts 60 threaded into the secondary base 4 and extending upwardly through arcuate slots 63 provided in flanges integral with the housings 36. Slots 63 are bossed and faced at the upper side as indicated at 62 (Fig. 3). In order to clamp the housing in adjusted position, nuts 6| are provided, by means of which the housings are firmly clamped to secondary base 4. As will be apparent from Fig. 3, arcuate slots 63 are formed on radii about the axis of shaft 43.

Secondary locking means are provided and take the form of a bar member 64 which is secured to one of the heads 36 by means of a screw bolt 68. The bar 64 at its opposite end is provided with a slot 65 through which screw bolt 66 is passed and is threaded into the other head 36 and clampingly engages the bar 64. Both of the cutter heads are appropriately bossed to re-.

ceive said bar 64 and are appropriately machined so that a firm locking engagement may be obtained. By this arrangement the cutter heads are rigidly locked together and in addition are rigidly locked to the secondary base 4. The structure as so far defined provides a support for the cutter spindles 48 only at their uppermost end. In the present machine in which exceptionally heavy thrusts are encountered, it has been found desirable to provide additional supports for the lowermost ends of the cutter spindles.

Referring specifically to Figs. 2 and 9, the lowermost end "It of the rear spindle element 49 is shown journalled or supported against lateral distortion by a pair of supports 43c. These supports are disposed upon and arranged on each side of the partition element Ia and are bolted as indicated at 49) to a horizontal flange on partitions I a. The supports are provided with appropriate slotted apertures through which screws 49f pass and which slots provide for adjustment in strict conformance with the adjustment of the corresponding cutter head. The wall Ib is in the form of a rigid casting and absorbs the lateral thrust of the cutter without distortion.

A difierent means must be provided for supporting the lower portion of the front cutting spindle, and in the illustrated embodiment this takes the form of a strut 49h (see Figs. 9 and 36 to 39).

The strut 4911. is an integral member and is adapted to span and be connected to primary base I and secondary base or beam 4. The strut is therefore rigidly supported and imparts additional rigidity to the secondary base 4. Apertures 49i are provided in the strut 4971 in which a bracket member 49d is adjustably secured. As best seen in Fig. 39, member 4911 is bifurcated, its arms projecting into apertures 49i. The arms are slotted to receive clamping bolts 40j by means of which the bracket 49d may be adjusted in coincidence with the adjustment of the corresponding cutter head. Brackets 49d and 49e have spindle supportingportions such as shown in Fig. 39 at 491.

It is apparent from the foregoing that the cutter head 36 and the adjustable supports for journalling the free ends of the cutter spindles provide an arrangement whereby there is a substantially complete elimination of all distortion and of vibration which might otherwise originate has two identical work spindles, each comprising a headstock indicated generally at I00 and an associated tailstock 92a. Mechanism is provided for raising and lowering the headstock I00-relative to the tailstock in order to clamp work therebetween and to release the work piece when completed. In addition, means are provided for positively rotating the headstock I00 at predetermined speeds.

The headstock and its elevating and rotating driving mechanism is best illustrated in Figs. 6, '7 and 8. The headstock spindle I02 is mounted for vertical or axial reciprocation and for rotation in the slide IOI. For this purpose the slide IN is apertured at I03a and at its lower portion is provided with a centrally apertured housing II2 for the reception of headstock elevatin mechanism.

A hearing I03 is provided for. the spindle I02 'in the aperture l03a. A retainer ring I05 en- 

